REVIEWS
— WriteKnit
“The ladder is very high when it comes to novels that are good enough, deep enough, challenging and entertaining enough to be among the true classics. But this has definitely ascended that ladder and taken its place among the best.”
— Reader Views
“For fans of J.D. Salinger’s classic novel The Catcher in the Rye, the vast emotional and existential explorations of the hero of J. William Lewis’ debut novel will ring true”
— BookPage
“I absolutely love this book. . . . The mood and atmosphere remind me of other Southern classics, especially the clash between lightness and darkness. . . . This is one of the best books I’ve read in years, and I truly believe it will become a Southern classic.”
— The Sketchy Reader
“The Essence of Nathan Biddle . . . is a rich well-paced seamless work loaded with feelings and philosophy. The writing is compelling and the story is narrated with a kind of magical realism. And despite an incredible amount packed into the novel, it glides effortlessly.”
— Bookpleasures
“Good fiction along the lines of Catcher in the Rye always turns our head, and this novel is the real deal.”
— ForeWord Reviews
“The Essence of Nathan Biddle is a classic . . . . The prose is exquisite, lyrical in style, and delightful. It is a compelling novel with strong philosophical and psychological depth; one of those books that are hard to put down.”
— Readers’ Favorite Reviews
“A fantastically written book about a boy named Kit Biddle living in Alabama in the late 1950s. . . . The Essence of Nathan Biddle is a wonderful, magical story that will have you thinking about its characters well after you put the book down.”
— Manhattan Book Review
“The Essence of Nathan Biddle is a coming of age story that will resonate . . . . Author J. William Lewis has written a transfixing drama that will tug at your heart and mind from beginning to end . . . .”
— Portland Book Review
“For those who enjoy novels in the Bildungsroman genre, this one absolutely hits the mark . . . .”
— To Make Much of Time
“A deftly crafted and eloquently original novel that showcases author J. William Lewis’s impressively entertaining and narrative driven storytelling talents. ‘The Essence of Nathan Biddle’ is one of those coming of age tales that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf.”
— Wisconsin Book Watch
“The Essence of Nathan Biddle is an impactful coming-of-age story . . . .”
— Seattle Book Review
“The Essence of Nathan Biddle, by J. William Lewis, is one of the more satisfying debut novels that I have read for a long time. . . . certainly an inspirational one.”
— The Book Chase
“This book is very beautifully written, has some serious laugh out loud moments, and somehow manages to be both dark and light in tone at the same time.”